The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-12-09
THE REFORM CONSPIRACY.

| leans oJdteSy SO clearly anu IofClDl.
illustrates the tactics employed b.
the Nichols party in the past ant
their programme for the future tina
we produce it in full:
Within the past few days the Re
formers have clearly developed theil
plan of battle. Only last Wednesday
their organ, the Pioaywns, quite
plainly announced it. 1t appears,
however, that this official utterance
was regarded by the managers of Gen.
Nichols as premature, and the broad
ly intimated purpose of forcing dual
convention at Baton Rouge was the
following day hastily but awkwardly
Withdrawn under an indiscriminate
charge of frand and trickery against
the straight-out Democrats. 1t was
idle for the Picayane, however, to at
tempt to cover up its incautIous
tracks. In North Louisiana, in New
Orleans and in other localities of the
state the leading Reformers have not
hesitated to openly declare that they
intend to force McEnery delegates to
"bolt." Their shameless and auds-
cious attempts, more OF less success
full, to manipulate parish committees,
stock mass meetings and literally
steal parishes that have gone against
them, their incendiary appeals through
secret circulars and public speeches to
their followers to send determined"
men to the convention, together with
the clearly disclosed fact that it is
their purpose to hatch up, in every
parish that goes against them, a con-
test, however fimsy and contempt
Bile the grounds may be, all combine
to prove beyond a doubt that it is
their intention to force by revolu-
tionary means either a dual conven-
ton, or ride rough-shod over the
rights and manhood of the McEnery
delegates.
The Reformers realized long ago
that the Democratic masses of this
state, by a very large majority, are
against Gen. Nichols; they discov,
cred weeks since that their campaign
of pretentious reform and sentiment
tahty had been repudiated by the
party, and that their candidate was
Just as certain to be defeated in q
really representative convention as
the sun is to rise On the 10th day OF
January. Hence, they have resolved
that there shall be no euch conven-
ton if it is in their power to prevent
it by Juggling, bullying, trickery and
the most shameless arts to suppress
the true expression Of the will of tht
Democratic party. Thus we find the
Reformers in the different parishes
moved and guided with the precision
of machine, operated from thi
f city, carrying on local fights, all of
> kind aud all alike dlsgraCeful to on
= civilization and threatening to th
D unity of our party.
E Their organ began first openly t
} preach the gospel of "bolting" regt
e lar Democratic conventions in 1884
4 its article at that time was printed b
e the Radical leaders of this state in
S circular as a campaign document fc
the Radical candidate, Stevenson
e against Gov. McEnery; and it is
r well-known fact that if those VIII
? acted upou the advice of that artlcI
and voted for the Radical condidat,
I or refrained from voting at oil, wei
v excluded, as they ought to be, fror
e the Democratic primaries, the votin
I strength of the Reformers in th
e management of the Democratic part
wonld be largely reduced. Indeed
: the managers of their own organ, th
3 FicGyane, which brazenly seeks t
f force itself into the position of
r Democratic oracle, would not be pc
mitted TO have a vote in a strict
$ party primary, caucus or conventio
E of the Democracy, if, in the gubernj
/ torial election in the spring, and Ii
I congressional election in the fall /
: 1884, they actually voted as the
9 fred their pop-gun.
II Boiling is part Of the platform /
y the Reformers. Heretofore, whs
I they have failed to control the reg
!, lar convention they have boIted,
q tried to get mp a bolt. But th,
g have found that a losing game. Al
le Democracy Of Louisiana has no tols
alton for boilers. The Reforme
ye have learned this to their sorrow, a
i; they now annonnee a change Of Il
of tics. They now declare that they
at tend % force the straight DemoeFi
who Gre supporting MoEnsFy and .
posing Nichols 70 belt; ana Is
aen hase opaned 4 Haf, ahafactauaea
.his such glafing outFages, 70 he baai
aeh mp # the convention By their dai
Iort mined men, = $ they assume viii 4
ags pei TIE heEneFy men, balliea
sol. oyoEawed, into submission or bolsi
Il Hb5liaTisg shat lhey vii resort ia